Donsing

The Donsing Family
Left to Right: Sisters:  Elsie (Mrs. Curtis Smith), Harriet (Mrs. Wm. Bose), Minnie (Mrs. Wm. Lauer,
and brother Fred W. Donsing
(Source: Photo courtesy of Bonnie Helgeson, granddaughter of William Lauer)

Elsie Donsing Smith (Mrs. Curtis Smith)
(Photo courtesy of Jim Smith)



Minnie Donsing Lauer
(Source: Photo courtesy of Bonnie Helgeson, granddaughter of William Lauer)

Fred W.(son of Fred H. Donsing) and Laura Donsing
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers Township, Kenosha County
(Photo source:  Larry & Linda Kopet USGenWebArchivesProjectWisconsin)

Fred H. and Mary A. Donsing
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers Township, Kenosha County
(Photo source: Larry & Linda Kopet USGenWebArchivesProjectWisconsin)



Mary Angeline, wife of Fred H.W. Donsing
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers Township, Kenosha County
(Photo source: Larry & Linda Kopet USGenWebArchivesProjectWisconsin)

1900 U.S. Federal Census

Fred H. Donsing, born October 1859 in Wisconsin,

Home in 1900:  Somers Township

Mary A. Donsing, Spouse, born 1858

Fred H. and Mary A. Marriage Year:  1881

Fred H. father and mother birthplace:  Braunsweig, Germany

Children:

Minnie V., born about 1883

Fred W. born about 1884

Emma, born about 1888

Hattie, born about 1890

Elsie, born about 1894

Donsing "In The News" Somers Township

"Miss Elsie Donsing, youngest daughter of Mr. Fred Donsing was united in marriage to Mr. Curtis Smith on Thursday afternoon at the Second M.E. parsonage, Racine, by the Rev. W.W. Dale.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith are spending their honeymoon with friends in Milwaukee.  On their return they will be at home to their friends in Somers."

"Fred Donsing had a barn raising on Friday."

(Racine Journal, March 8, 1910)

"The marriage of Miss Hattie Donsing, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Donsing, to Mr. William F. Bose, Jr., of Berryville, was solemnized Tuesday evening, January 19, 1909 at the home of the bride.  Rev. Wiliams of the Presbyterian Church officiated in the presence of about fifty of the immediate friends of the contracting parties.  After the usual congratulations, a bountiful repast was served.  Both bride and groom are well and favorably known and have the heartfelt wishes of a host of friends.  They were the recipients of many useful and beautiful gifts.  The happy couple will reside upon the Bose homestead near Berryville."

(Racine Journal, January 26, 1909)

"Again has the Angel of Death entered our midst and taken one of our most beloved and esteemed.  Mrs. Mary Angeline Donsing departed this life Sunday evening August 18, 1907 after a lingering illness of some months.

Mrs. Donsing was born in Kewaunee Co., Wisconsin April 30, 1858, and was united in marriage to Fred Donsing December 14, 1880.  Some years ago she with her husband, came to Somers where she has since resided.  She was a woman of gentle, unassuming nature, loving and beloved by all who knew her.  She had a kind and generous heart, always ready and willing to lend a helping hand.  A true Christian, a devoted wife and mother, patient and uncomplaining in these sad years that disease has preyed upon her.

With the bereaved husband there survived her, and who have the heartfelt sympathy of all of this, their irreparable loss, four daughters, Mrs. William Lauer (Somers) , Mrs. M.A. Rasmussen (Somers) , Misses Hattie and Elsie Donsing, one son, Fred Donsing, a mother, one sister, Mrs. Emma Persel of Colorado; four bothers, Theodore, George, Nicholas, and Peter Lorig, of South Milwaukee.

The funeral services will be held from her late home on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Somers."

(Racine Journal, August 21, 1907)

"A diploma was issued Hattie Donsing from District No.1"

(Racine Journal March 31, 1905)

"Mr. Donsing bought a load of cattle in Milwaukee one day last week."

(Racine Journal November 21, 1900)

"Mr. Donsing purchased a new Osborne binder last week."

(Racine Journal July 19, 1899)

"Fred Donsing is out with a new cabbage planter."

(Racine Journal, March 5, 1896)

"Fred Donsing sold 40 acres of land to John Denig.  Mr. Fred Donsing is hauling material for a fine new resident he will build this fall."

(Racine Journal September 14, 1909)

"Mrs. Fred Donsing died at her home in Somers on Sunday evening after a long illness at the age of 40 years."

(Racine Journal Aug. 10, 1907)

Partial 1908 Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Section 14 and 15
F. Donsing 152 acres and 118 acres
Location:  Corner of Highway E or Somers Road (East/West) and Highway 31 or Green Bay Road (North/South)

William Donsing Obituary (father of Fred Donsing of Somers Township)
Click on image for larger view.
Newspaper Clipping Source:  Unknown
Source:  rlastathome family public site on Ancestry.com

William Donsing, retired, one of the most respected citizens

of German birth residing in the city. was born at Brunswick, Ger-
many, on Dec. 22, 1841, a son of Fred and Minnie (Wolford) Donsing.
Both parents were born in Brunswick, where the father followed the
vocation of cooper successfully until the time of his migration to
America in 1853. He came direct to Milwaukee county and located
on a small farm in the town of Lake, and there remained until his
death in 1888. The mother died some years before her husband.
Three children, two of whom survive, were born to the parents. Wil-
liam Donsing, the subject of this review, received somewhat limited
educational advantages in the common schools of his native land.
When but fourteen years of age he left school to take upon himself
the superintendency of a large estate, caring for both the house and
the grounds. Shortly after coming to America he secured employ-
ment as a farm hand for ten dollars a month for the first few months
of his labor. Naturally of frugal habits, he managed to save enough
from his meager earnings to purchase a small acreage in the town of
Lake, where he continued farming operations until 1896. By that
year he had accumulated a sufficient competence to allow him to retire
from active participation in the affairs of life and purchase a fine home
at 801 Delaware avenue, where today he is enjoying a well-earned
respite. His success has in large measure been due to his habits of
thrift, perseverance in the face of difficulties, and his indomitable will
power, which have won for him the respect and esteem of all his
neighbors. In his political belief Mr. Donsing is staunchly Republican,
hut has never sought to become his party candidate for public office
of any nature. Mr. Donsing has been twice married. By his first
wife. Miss Minnie Timmerman, a native of Germany, he is the father
of six children: Fred, Henry, Mary and Augusta (twins), Minnie,
and Henrietta. His second wife has also passed away.

(Source:  Page 621 -622 Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed Volume: 2 Subject: Milwaukee County (Wis.) -- History Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT Language: English Call number: b4232529 Digitiz.  Jane_Shore public site of Ancestry.com) 

Henry W. Donsing Obituary (brother of Fred Donsing of Somers Township)
Click on image for larger view.
Newspaper Clipping Source: Unknown
Source: rlastathome family public site on Ancestry.com